Tara, Candice, & Robyn in 'Belle Vere' by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia June 2011

Beloved and now-passed Italian Vogue editor Franca Sozzani went with curvaceous seduction in her June 2011 Steven Meisel cover editorial ‘Belle Vere’ featuring Tara Lynn, Candice Huffine and Robyn Lawley.

Models.com says this is the first time voluptuous women have graced the cover since Sophie Dahl, circa 2000.

Sozzani’s comments may be more important than the images —  in a fashion world that doesn’t believe them for one moment:

“Why should these women slim down? Many of the women who have a few extra kilos are especially beautiful and also more feminine”.

Anne of Carversville is devoted to exploring a woman’s world: her ideas, her self-image, the messages fashion sends to women about body image, beauty standards and the expression of her sexuality.

In my extensive personal life experience and my career work on these topics, cultural, political and religious messages are always part of fashion’s impact on a woman’s identity.

Steven Meisel’s editorial, styled by Edward Enninful, are voluptuously beautiful, erotic in the style of Ellen von Unwerth and a gorgeous tribute to Candice Huffine, Tara-Lynn & Robyn Lawley.

These images also honor the millions of women worldwide with hips, a bosom and derriere who seek to feel beautiful and acknowledged in the business of fashion. Its influence so dominates our sense of self at every turn into the mirror that only a dedicated, fully secure and advanced spirit can stay steady under its influence.

Reducing the ideal woman to a size 0 from the more ‘voluptuous’ size 4-6 Turlington, Crawford, Campbell & Co 90s Supermodels is an interesting metaphor for today’s fashion world’s ideal woman. Reading these words again — over a decade later — AOC is more compelled than ever to insist that the 90s supermodels had to be cut down to size. Literally. They were way too powerful.

Only now are supermodels like Bella Hadid challenging the power balance in the industry. In Bella’s case, that has nothing to do with weight and body type. But she possesses the same inner power and self-confidence of Turlington, Crawford, Campbell and crew. Not initially, but she has manifested her way there in impressive ways.

Sozzani promised to incorporate a wider range of models into future Vogue Italia editorials. She launched Vogue Curvy online [no more] and promised to promote more than one body type.. ~Anne